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Showing posts from August, 2009

The Struggle!

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Go over to Ballast Films and check out Bryan Wizemann video about a arguement he had with his wife about film. It got to me, and I can understand how Sabina (Wizemann's wife) feels. A film career is anything but stable, and having a family is a hard balance when both film & family compete with each other. Personally I could never do the balancing act, and I've always thought family first. Also if you get a chance head on over to wholphindvd.com I'd be curious to know how the filmmaker and his wife are now, and if they've resolved the career choices of each other.

Inglourious Basterds (2009)

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Where do I start. I'm a Quentin Tarantino fan, and at the same time I have mixed feelings about this film. First off I have to say that my father served on the other side, and though he had nothing good to say about it I did hear some of his stories. They were all gruesome and none of them were happy stories. Tarantino's film makes every German a Nazi. This is just too simplistic for me. I know this is only a film, but films like "Saving Private Ryan", "Letters from Iwo Jima" and "Enemy at the Gates" truly depict the horrors of war. Tarantino's film does not. Sure he shows the gruesome details of the kill, but it's for shock effect, and no more. I like Tarantino's style, and have always thought of him as a skilled filmmaker, and a lover of cinema and I mean ALL cinema. The opening scene of the film is quite good and unnerving. His actors play over the top and it suits the film. How Tarantino weaves his story lines is also fascinating, b

GI-Joe (2009)

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Okay before you say another word yes I payed to see this. I have a seven year old boy who seems to like action flicks, so I was destined to see it. I loved GI-Joe when I was growing up, and a lot of the time those GI-Joe's with the kung fu grip became my actors in some pretty primitive stop motion action. But that was a different Joe. The GI-JOE I remember were adventurers and protectors. There was NO Cobra to fight against. I believe only in the 80's did that come about, and then the action figures went from 12 inches tall to mini-action hero's. No more kung fu grip or fuzzy type hair or beard. So Paramount pictures has me in their cross-hairs, and since I've got two boys it's all about the merchandising. I can only thank that my youngest isn't fazed by the JOE franchise. He'll stick to his dinosaurs thank you. But my oldest well he certainly is caught in the hype, and his favorite is of course Snake Eyes who is played by Ray Park . So did I loath this film

DIY Days - Esther Robinson: Building a Creative Foundation

Here's the lecture that Ms Robinson gave, which I found inspiring. The lifetime of work is so true, and I love this phrase: "Build your future, and not deny your existence ". Take a listen to it, and tell me if I'm not right. Listening to it again I'm inspired. Thanks Ms Robinson!

Tapeless Terror

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I just read an article by Fred Olen Ray about his latest film which is directed by his son Christopher Douglas Olen Ray . It's an interesting article about what camera he used and what problems he first encountered in using a consumer-pro type of camera. If the name doesn't sound familiar Mr. Ray's film have played theaters, late night TV, and lately Syfy . He is also author of a book called " The New Poverty Row" from McFarland, which is pretty inspiring. Check out DV.com for the article, or just click on the link " Tapeless Terror ". I think you'll get some useful info about it. Check it out. Figured I pass it on.

DIY - Philadelphia (Part 1)

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So yesterday the heavens stayed clear, and we even got some sun out of the deal, and what do I do but spend it in a lecture hall. But all was good. TheDIY - Philadelphia conference went on at the University of the Arts downtown in Philly, and there was a good turn-out of people. Why did I go to a DIY - conference when I already did it myself? Well to put it simple one film is not enough, and as the DIY mantra is: Fund, Create, Distribute, Sustain. There were some interesting individuals who gave some interesting lectures. Esther Robinson of Arthome gave an interesting lecture on Clarity & fearlessness. In her lecture she told it like it is, and that credit can be a GOOD thing. An interesting statement she said was "build your future & don't deny your existence." I think it was something like that. Lance Weiler was there too talking about his experiences, and what he's doing. Mr. Weiler had some interesting thoughts, and he seemed to be running the show as w